Means for pulling down pit props or pillars



Feb. 13, 1940. w, w E AL 2,190,556

MEANS FOR PULLING DOWN PIT PROPS OR PILLARS Filed Dec. 23, 195'? e Sheets-Sheet 1 v WWieZecK EMA/W022 and VV- fial-dgjeck In venzonsg- Feb. 13, 1940. w. WIEBECKE 5f AL MEANS FOR PULLING DOWN PIT PROPS 0R PILLARS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 23, 1937 e 6 $3 8 6 0 v F.

k k r CZC ml A Md WW w a 3, 1940- w. WIEBECKE El AL 2,190,556

MEANS FOR PULLING DOWN PIT PROPS OR PILLARS Filed Dec. 23, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 FWMoZZ inn? 5 W// cZL'ecA Feb. 13, 1940. w wlEBECKE AL 2,190,556

MEANS FOR PULLING DOWN PIT PROPS OR PILLARS Filed Dec. 23, 1957' 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 2 v I lm enfam;

W Wiefiecke, VV- M022 and mf/flzciz'eck r Attorneys Feb. 13, 1940. w, w AL 2,190,556

MEANS FOR PULLING DOWN PIT PROPS OR PILLARS Filed Dec. 23, 1937 Fly. 10

6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lm enfom: 14 WL'e Z 'c A e EMA/W022 and W #E/"QZLECAY Feb. 13, 1940. w. WIEBECKE ET AL MEANS FOR PULLING DOWN PIT PROPS OR PILLARS s Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 23, 1937 Patented Penis; 1940 y 3 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR PULLING DOWN PIT PROPS Walter Wiebecke, Alsdorf, 'near" Aachen, Friedrich Wilhelm Moll, Witten-Ruhr, and ,Walter Hardieck, Dortmund,- Germany, assignors to the firm F. W.'Moll Siihne, Maschinenfabrik, Witten; Germany Y Application December 23, 1937, Serial No. 181,450

7 In GermanyD ecember 28, 1936 19-01mm. (or, 262-4) As elements in mining;operationsiunderground, t one proppart and endingv at a distance from use'is made either of pit props (made ofvw ood the-hanging wall and the footwall, may alsobe or iron) or of pillars which consist of a large used. r v number of pieces of wood or iron placed one "For the purpose of-pulling 'out pit props in *6 over the other cross-wise.- Theseprops or pillars fi ce wi he nv i n a op 5 11 3 1 .5 must as the mining work advances be removed providedwithna wedge which rests againstthe and placed afresh, at certain intervals of time. up ped membe 'f rm ns he gu de n This removal of props or pillars which are under which, When t e rope isvpulled, iorces one part pressure is dangerous because thereof may come of the prop away fromsthe other.

'10 down. This collapse ofthe roof is even brought Props or pillarsare known, the partsof which aboutartificially by taking away the props. A rest on each other withgrea yi c ne l awn large number of devices are known by'which it sclf arresting W d- 8 sur a and inwwh c h is possible to pull'away the props or pillars from cki g dow s efie ed by r leas ng .a bo t a certain distance therefrom. These methods which in rwrmaLOD t OH pr vents he parts P have the disadvantage however that each prop 0f theprop qr pi arfr ms ippina Wal Ev t or pillar must in a tedious manner be pulled With props or pillars thisikindl th hproc s away separately. I p v A i accordingto theinvention canibe used: namely The invention relates to a method for the by the-methodtthatfithe bolti l fi s yt pulling away of pit props. or pillars which are W dge Orv-Striker carrie by the rope- 2 0 sub-divided into at least two" parts movable in A further improvement resu i the Hilli 3 relation to each other. The invention renders p ts o r lowerupar s, OrbOthQ prop ar (116- possible convenient pulling away of a number b1y ne ed a t activ i a n wh h of props or pillars of this kind standing in a pulls theseparts w y er hepprop has ceased row from a great distance and in an economic tO- underlllessullel In d t on, 811 1911, Darts way and is characterized by the fact that by lmovable int elation tovreaohvqther, a be D 2 means of guides arrangedonv a number of props v d o with. a form of connec o which allows or pillars standing in a row a pulling member o a m d t a disp aceme t of th parts: to such asa ropeor cable ispassedvhaving at its aeachothef- "T Connection may b a for end. a wedge or striker, which when the rope is m i l bysh0rtpieces of chain.- A connection x tightened produces "relative movement of the of this kind afiords the dv n age that w en ne "all parts of the props or pillars one after the other. P Of' he .propvis pulle on th other pa In this, way therefore, from. a point free from arliedllwithitl I t danger it is possible by means of a Winch to r s o na forms of h inVentiQn successively free the individual props or pillars e illustrated y Way Of v amp n e annexed standing; in a row from pressure by moving the drawings, in which? v i 35 parts of the respective props or pillars (for ex- Figs. 1 ndtlaare respectively an elevat ample a top part and a bottom part) relatively d a pl pit propvwith ay m toeach other by a certain amount, inparticular, Figsand r r ffi W 3 an e v on by displacing them laterally. In this way the and, plan of a pillar i hr n l 1 props or pillars collapse and can then be cone Figs. 3 n a are respectively a plans and 4,0

veniently removed. If props or pillars consisting elevation Of a Similar constructional o of two parts are used, it will be desirable to make is a d a illustrating a P ay the meeting surfaces of the parts sloping inorder installation J to facilitate the movement of the parts relatively 'Figs- 5 d S tWO t e t each othen constructional examples of pit props in clever- The carrying out of the method according to on andrp the invention can be effected by providing: at i S- 7a and, 7b S W'a furt er construcleast one part of each prop or pillar-with a guide nal example in, elevation, 'p an sid -vi w. 'for the rope which carries the wedge or prop I (Figsn 1, 9 9, lustrat W ur h r this guide being preferably formed of a stirrupv00113171buttiol'lttl mp sp t ll y elevation 5 shaped member. The body of the guide may and P form:one of the parts of the props or pillars F gs. 10; 10a and 01),, are elevat fln p an and themselves or-rmay be interposed between two s ei w 0f t ep n w y f pecia ldo prop parts. A stirrup-shaped member bridging signof pillar. Figs. 11 and ll f show a. similar M over the junction part of two prop parts, fixed} constructional, form n l ion and plant-v I surface 3.

a robust stirrup or shoemember which has a guide groove or opening 4 through which, by

mediate pieces 7 rest.

drum it).

each other by a stirrup piece H.

Figs. 11!) and 110 show details of Figs. 11 and 11a on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 12 shows in plan a constructional form of the method,

Theprop according to Figs. 1 and 1a consists of an upper part i and a lower part 2. These parts rest against each other along the sloping The bottom part 2 is in the form of means of a winch (not shown) a rope or cable 5 can be drawn, which carries at its end a wedge 6. When this wedge 6 is drawn through the groove the upper part ofthe prop i is forced laterally away from the lower part 2 and in this way the prop is relieved of pressure so that it collapses.

In the constructional form according to Figs. 2 and 2a. instead of the prop a pillar is used which consists of pieces of wood I arranged in cross layers. Between the pieces of wood of the two lowest layers a double stirrup 2' is interposed on the wedge faces 3 of which iron inter- Through the two guide rooves '4' of the double stirrup or interconnecting member 2, the ropes 5 to be actuated by a winch can be drawn with the wedge t, the intermediate pieces 7 being forced away to one side and the pillar left without support.

The constructional form of-Figs. 3 and 3a only 'difiers from that of Figs. 2 and 2a by the fact that the intermediate iron pieces 1 are replaced by pieces of wood 1'.

' Of course in all constructional examples the parts of the prop or' pillar may be made of any material such as iron or wood.

Fig. 4 shows in plan an installation for pulling down props in series. The illustration shows props in position working along the strike. Between the working face 8 (for example coal) and the packing 8 there are four rows of props, a, b,

c and d. auxiliary props e not, called upon to take up any particular pressure being also placed between the rows and 02. Theprops of'the rows 1., b, c, (1 may be of the type shown in' Figs. 1 and 2, or of the type shown in Figs. 5 to 10. Through the guide in the props d a rope 5 is then passed which can be wound up on a. winch A second rope 5 also operated by a winch drum it is passed through the guides of the adjoining row of props c. The ropes carry at their ends wedges S'staggered in relation to clefts in the hanging-wall or those which may I form. In this way the collapse of the hanging wall intended to take place after pulling away the props is assisted. Theauxiliary props e are cleared away by the stirrup piece H.

In the constructional example according to 'Figs. 5 and 5a the pit props consist of an iron upper part i" and an angular stirrup 2". The

guide for the rope 5 which carries the wedge or stop is formed on the one hand by the two legs of this stirrup and on the other hand by faces I: onthe other prop part I" which is cut away for that purpose in its lower portion.

- lesser size.

In Figs. 6 and 6a the stirrup which forms the bottom part of the prop consists of the link bodies or guides 2 and the bottom plate 2 The links are let into and fastened in grooves in the bottom plate. The guide groove for the rope 5 is in this case formed partly by the links 2 and partly by the bottom plate 2 This constructional form'has the advantage that the forces of fiexion on the support are absorbed by the links 2 which act as tensile bands.

In the constructional form according to Figs. 7, 7a and 7b the stirrup 2 which forms the guide of the rope 5 is interposed between two prop parts of which the upper part i is made of iron and the lower part i is made of wood and is of larger section. with a pressure plate is corresponding to the wood block and embracing the upper edge of the wood body by means of cams l3 arranged in the shape of a crown.

The arrangement according to Figs. 7 and 72) has theadvantage that the guide for the rope 5 lies at a somewhat greater distance above the footwall and that in addition the length of the top can be adapted to the particular conditions by means of a piece of wood i of greater or The piece of wood is laid in such manner that its grain runs in the direction of pressure. It is of course also possible for the wooden body to form the upper part of the prop just as the guide for the rope can be fitted at any desired point of the prop, namely near to the hanging wall or near to the footwall or in a middle position.

In the constructional form according to Figs. 8-8a, the stirrup 2 which forms the guide is rigidly fixed for exampleby welding to the iron upper part I. The stirrup is so arranged that it is at a distance both from the footwall and from the hanging wall. Between the iron upper part I and the wooden lower part i an iron pressure plate it is interposed which is fixedly connected with the prop l and also if required with the stirrup 2 This form of construction has the advantage that the stirrup can be made very light and simple. Owing to being fixed to one of the prop parts it can conveniently be pulled away together with the latter. Here to of course the prop parts may be made of any material.

Figs. 9 and 911 show a similar constructional form in which the stirrup 2 is designed as a hook and is particularly connected by a ring or a chain link [5 with the upper part of the prop. The free end of the hook 2 forms a fork I 6 which embraces the wooden bottom prop.

Figs. 10, 10a, 10b show the means for pulling away a wooden pillar which similarly to the The guide body 2 is providedconstructional example of Figs. 2 and 3 consists 'of layers of wood pieces i arranged crosswise. The intermediate pieces rest against the inclined non self-supporting wedge surfaces 3 of the intermediate body ii. In order to prevent sliding ofif on the surface 3' and consequently loss of pressure of the props in normal operation, rope loops i3 are provided which are placed over short upwardly directed arms of the hooks I!) mounted so that they can swing about pins 20 and which take the rope 5 between them by means of their elevated arms 21.

The null rope 5 carries a stop member 6' which on impinging on the arms 2! turns the hooks over so that the rope loops are freed,

thereupon the intermediate. pieces 1' automati- 'cgi oogssc i v n.

s'pecial pul-ling agency 28" is'provide'd. The van 'cally slide outwards on the wedge' surfaces 'necting-rrieans must in-eve'i'y case b'e' so se'lected and the pillar is relieved" of pressure.-

The constructional .iorm according to Figs; ll,

l'1a,'1'1b-and'1lc correspondsin principle to the I constructional 'formaccording to Figs.- 10," a, lob. The rope loops lirplaced around 'the' iron intermediate pieces 1- are by the-chain links 22 placed round the e levatedrpins 23 of the intermediate body 11; The pins -23" are supported outside by means of triangular welded n the pieces 2 1 and with the bodyll forni the limits i of a guidefor therope*5;-whichcarriesa wedge at the free. end. Thiswedgenwhich isshown on a larger scale in Fig; 110 passes withite curved planks beneath the -rings 1 2 and pushes "the latter upwards and slips them off the pins itso that the released-intermediate pieces 1 slight resistance particularly after the prop has which isnot shown.

slide down on the wedge surfaces 3? and the "pillar is relieved of pressure. -20

For the better guiding of the wedged the groove 26 is pro vided in'the body I l; in which groove the wedge slidesb-y its shoulder'fil. l

In all the constructional forms describedof posts and pillars itisdesirable for the guide for the rope carrying the stop or wedge to be pro vided' with forwardlyprojecting guidesurfaces for the wedge or stop] Fig. 12 showsa constructional form ofjthcmethod in which inaddition tothe'pulling means for the wedge B there is also provided pulling means 28 by which prop parts which have become free of pressure are pulled away and can therefore be" brought withoutdanger to a distant point. .The props in this case consist of an upper part land a stirrup shaped lower part 2,

the stirrup being able .to be of any of the designs according to groove through Figs. 1, 1a). This stirrup has a which the pulling means 5 for,

the wedge 6 canbe drawn in order to force the upper part of the prop laterally from the stirrup.

The pulling means is set in "motion by} a winch The two pulling means 28 and 5can be operated by a common drive, the driving drum for the pulling rope .28 which pulls out the prop parts being provided with a coupling of such a character as will engageorily with a relatively become free from pressure; a For this purpose a friction clutch may for example be used.

The stirrups 2 which form the lower part pof the prop are connected with the pulling rope 28 in such manner as. to be easily detached (for example 'by'simply holding, belayingor gripping) This rope. 28 moves with a greater speed for exc second pulling rope 28 to pull away the stirrup 2 with a corresponding lead relatively to-the wedge 6, so that it can be released fromthe rope in a safe part of the mine lyingfarther back. With the stirrup Zthe upper prop part I is coupledfor example by a short but suspended piece of chain so that onpulling up the stirrup the prop is also" carried along. The connection of the two prop parts i and 2 is also 'offimportance when no pulled through the'guide opening thewedge mem:

that the movement of the prop parts relativelyto What we claim as our invention and desireto 'secure by-Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

"1. An apparatus for 'pulling downmine props o'r pill'ars each of-which isin-at least two parts, comprising a shoe" member formingone part of. a prop, said member having a guide opening therein; a pulling-means adapted to pass" through the cpening,yand a wedge member on one end of; the pullingvmember which when pulled; bythe pulling' member and when thewedge member passes through the opening the wedge member will contact the other part of the prop to force a*';relative movement"between-thetwo parts of :th'e'prop. I f v 2'. An apparatusaccording to .claim Lin-which the shoe member has a' wedge: surface on which 'the other part of the prop rests and on which the relative movement of the parts takes place.

3. Aniapparatus 'for pullingd own mine props .or pillars, comprising-a shoe member having a of the prop, a pulling member adaptedto pass "2'5 wedge surface and a guide opening, said shoe 1 member being adapted; to be provided on an end through 'the guide opening, and a wedge member on one. end ofr the pulling 'member which when be'r will cause a relative movement between the shoei'mem'berand thepropr .4. An apparatus according the guide opening in the shoe member is formed. by two'arms. J f

5. Anlapparatus according to claim 3, in which the shoe member with the guide opening'con sists of a, bottom part; and in which a pair of link guides are provided around the bottom part and adjacent each side of the prop. Y

t 6. An apparatus according to claim 3, in which the wedge surface of the shoe" member is in the form of a pressure plate, v

7.. An apparatus according to claim 3, in which two shoe members are provided for two spaced. props, and in which an interconnecting member is provided to connect the two shoe members together'.. i

8. An apparatusaccording to claim 3,in which 1 means is provided to articularly connect the'shoe member with the prop. 9; An apparatus according to claim 3, in which 'the shoe member has'a hook, and in which a chain link is provided interconnecting the shoe member with the prop. 1

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the shoe member is provided with a fork to em-1 brace, one of the prop parts. r

'11. Anapparatus according to claim 3; in which two shoe members are provided. for two. spaced is provided to connect the .two shoe members to claim 1, in which props and in which an interconnecting member together; including means to connect each prop with the interconnecting member which are re leased by the wedge member'on the pulling memher. I

12. An apparatus for pulling down mine props.

or pillars, comprising a shoe member on which i the prop is'adapted to rest and having an opening adjacent the side of the prop, and a pulling.

member adapted to pass through the opening and having a-wedge surface whereby when the pulling member is 'pulled through the opening by contacting theshoe member and. the side of the prop V between the prop and, the shoe member to free the prop and the shoe member.'

13; An apparatus for pulling down mine props or pillars, comprising a shoe member on which the prop is adapted to rest and having an opening adjacent the side of the prop, a Wedge member adapted to pass through the opening, and

.means for pulling said wedge member through the opening whereby the wedge member'will contact the shoe member and the side of the prop to cause relative movement between the prop and the shoe member to free the prop and the shoe member.

, '14. An apparatus according to claim 13, in

which the means includes a rope and a winding drum. I a v 15. An apparatus for pulling down mine props or pillars, comprising a shoe member on which the prop is adapted to rest, a wedge member adapted to cooperate ,withthe shoe member to cause relative movement, between the shoe. memher and the prop to free the prop and shoe member, and means for operatingthe wedge member from a point. remote from the location of the An apparatusc for pulling down mine props or pillars, comprising a shoe member on which each propis adapted to rest, a wedge 'member adapted to cooperate with each shoe member to cause relativemov'ement between'the shoe member and the prop. to free the prop and shoe member, and means for operatingthe wedge the, wedge surface willcause relative movement member to successively cause relative movement between successive prop and shoe members from a point remote from all the props.

17. An apparatus for pulling down a row of mine props, comprising a shoe member for each prop on-which the prop is adapted to rest, a wedge member adapted to cooperate with each shoe member to cause relativemovement between the shoe member and the prop to free the prop and shoe member, and, means for pulling the wedge member successively from one shoe mempull down the row of mine. props from a point remote from all the props. I

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, in whichthe means includes a single cable which passes adjacent each shoe member and in which a winding drum is provided to draw the rope and finally the wedge member along the row of props.

' WALTER WlEBECKE.

FRIEDRICH WILHELM MOLL. 1 WALTER HARDIECK.

her to the adjacent shoe'member to successively 

